Ukraine resorts to 1200 MWh emergency aid from Romania - Ukrenergo

MOSCOW. Aug 17 (Interfax) - The Ukrenergo national energy company (NEC) resorted to emergency aid totaling 1,200 MWh from the Romanian power system from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on August 16 amid this summer's power consumption peak.

"Ukrenergo received emergency aid from Romania from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at 400 MW every hour to ensure consumption. But the emergency aid is the last tool to overcome the power shortage in the energy system, the cost of such electricity is high," Ukrainian media quoted the company's message on social media on Thursday.

A new summer consumption peak was recorded in Ukraine's power system at 9 p.m. on August 16, which exceeded the previous high, which was recorded on July 19, by 0.4%, the NEC said.

At the same time, due to shortened daylight hours and cloudy weather in some regions, the solar power plants produced less electricity in the evening hours, when the consumption was highest. At the same time, the volume of imports was insufficient to compensate for the difference between consumption and production.

On Thursday, electricity imports are coming from Slovakia and Moldavia during the morning and evening hours with a maximum capacity of up to 645 MW in some hours, the company said. There are no exports.

On August 16, the transboundary 400 kW Ukraine-Romania overhead power line of the Ukrenergo NEC was temporarily shut down due to a fire that broke out in the field, the Ukrainian Energy Ministry said, as media reported. Following the inspection, the signs of the fire were discovered near Mukachevo, and the aftermath has been removed. The 400 kW Ukraine-Hungary overhead line of the Ukrenergo NEC was also shut down. The reasons for the shutdown are being looked into.

There is damage to the energy infrastructure in the Dnepropetrovsk region, Ukrenergo said. About 10,000 customers were cut off from electricity supply. Currently, the power supply has been restored in full.